Meaney, Flannan J. – Fred H. McGrath & Son, Inc.

Flannan J. Meaney, age 92, resident of Bronxville and of Kilrush, Co. Clare, Ireland, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 19th. Flan is survived by: his wife Catherine (nee Roberts) and his children Mary (Gregory Molloy), Eileen, Susan (Peter Incledon), and Frank (Alice); his grandchildren, Caroline, Megan and Conor Incledon, Margaret and Brendan Molloy, Christopher, Aidan, and Brian Meaney; great-granddaughter Clare Kavanaugh; and by his sister Helena Cunniffe, and brothers William and Jack, as well as dozens of nieces and nephews here and in Ireland. Flan was predeceased by his son Brian (Maureen Farrell) and by his sister Mary Margaret, and brothers Owen, Francis, Thomas, and Joseph.

Flan was a proud Clare man, an avid Gaelic footballer, and a lover of dogs and hunting. When he came to the United States at age 26, he brought all of this with him. He had hunting dogs in every home he ever lived in (even the tiny New York apartments he started out in), and in hunting season, had a refrigerator full of pheasant and rabbit. He played Irish football for the Clare team in New York and was always captain. Continuing the Irish traditions was very important to him. He met his wife, Catherine, at a dance in Gaelic Park for people from County Clare. They were married for 62 years.

When he arrived in New York in 1957, Flan got a job as a clerk for The Chase Manhattan Bank, where he remained for over 30 years, working his way up to Vice President. Upon his retirement, Flan bought a house back in Kilrush, and for the next 25 years, split his time between New York and Ireland.

Flan had a brilliant mind. Although he left school at age 17 to begin working for the Irish postal service, he could read and write in 3 languages (English, Irish and Latin), had an immense knowledge of classical literature, and could quote Shakespeare, Tennyson and Yeats at length.

Flan was a loving grandfather. He would often try to sneak Cadbury chocolates or money into his grandchildren’s hands and pockets – no matter how small those grandchildren were. And as his grandchildren got older, he enjoyed spending time with them in Ireland, taking them along on his walks out to Cappa with his dogs, and always out for ice cream.

Flan enjoyed a good laugh, a good beer, and a good song(“Daisy Bell – Bicycle Built for Two” and “Kevin Barry” were particular favorites). We will remember his love of family, hunting, dogs, and a pint or two as well as his great wit and sense of humor. He really did have a sparkle in his eye.

“The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,
Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.”

Omar Khayyám

Viewing will be on Sunday, September 24th, 2023, from 3-7 p.m. at McGrath Funeral Home, Bronxville, New York. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, September 25th, 2023, at 10:45 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Church, Bronxville.

Condolences(11)

Moira , Padraic & Isabelle says
September 19, 2023 at 5:26 pm

Our sincere condolences to Aunt Kitty , Mary , Eileen,Susan and Frank. We are very sorry to hear of Uncle Flans passing but he is at peace now .
We are thinking of you all at this sad time and keeping you in our players .
May his gentle soul Rest in Peace.
Ralph Romano says
September 20, 2023 at 9:25 am

My deepest condolences to Catherine, Mary, Eileen, Susan & Frank on the passing of Mr.Meaney, know that he is at peace suffering no more, now at Home hunting with Brian – RIP !
Mary Dymphna, John and family. says
September 20, 2023 at 4:02 pm

Sincere sympathy to Aunt Kitty and all the family on the very sad loss of Uncle Flan. Many happy memories to remember. Thinking of all of you at this sad time. May his gentle soul rest in eternal peace.
Donna DePiola says
September 20, 2023 at 8:30 pm

Condolences to the entire Meaney clan and extended family and friends. What a wonderful and full life Mr. Meaney has led. His smile was contagious. God bless Flannan Meaney and family.???
Sylvia , Dave & Grace says
September 21, 2023 at 5:47 am

We are so sad at the passing of Uncle Flan . What wonderful memories we have of him in both Kilrush & New York over the years which we will cherish . Thinking of Auntie Kitty , Mary , Eileen , Susan & Frank , all the grand children , Auntie Nellie , Jack & Willie and all the extended Family . A long life well lived . Rest in Peace now Uncle Flan , you will be missed .☘️
- REPLY
  Patrick and Virginia says
  September 21, 2023 at 4:11 pm
  
  We are so sorry to hear of the passing of Flan,
  Sincere condolences to aunt Kitty and the entire Meaney clan,
  What a life he had,
  Rest in peace Flan.
  Love from Patrick Virginia, Seán, Máiréad and Lorcán Roberts.
Matthew & Dympna Molloy says
September 21, 2023 at 4:18 pm

Kitty, Mary, Susan, Eileen & Frankie we are so sorry to hear of your sad loss. Flan was a great person and more importantly always a Clare man. He looked after any visitors from Ireland – even 2nd cousins! He was very helpful to us when we worked in NY. Flan was extremely proud of his lovely family, rightly so. We have great happy memories of Flan and he will be forever in our thoughts. Such a character, you never knew what to expect! He will be sadly missed. May he rest in peace .
Dan O’Flynn says
September 21, 2023 at 7:22 pm

So sorry to hear of the passing of Flan, he is I’m sure telling stories with my dad Con O’Flynn. Kitty and family many fond memories in the Bronx on 198th and 197th streets. I know Flan and my dad along with my late brother John hunting under White Stone Bridge. May they all Rest In Peace
Claire Meaney says
September 22, 2023 at 5:02 am

Condolences to Aunt Kitty, Mary, Eileen, Susan and Frank. .also to Uncle Jack and Aunt Nellie On the passing of Uncle Flan.
We are thinking of you all and remembering his kindness to us all both in West Clare and in New York when he (and Kitty)took in a stray from London!
I will never forget such kindness from a formidable but humble character who never followed the crowd .Rest in Peace Flan.
Love from Willie, Sally and Claire
Ann Hegarty says
September 22, 2023 at 11:41 am

Deepest condolences to Kitty, Eileen and the Meaney family at this time. My thoughts and prayers go out to you on Flan’s passing.
From Ann Hegarty, 2 Brooklands
Peter says
September 22, 2023 at 3:11 pm

I feel very fortunate to have had a father in-law that was kind, respectful and fun to spend time with. Flan (and Kitty) have been that to me and I am grateful. Flan was a bit foreign (literally) to me at first. But I quickly appreciated his wit and sense of humor. His reaction to my incarceration diet business plan was swift, “you’re a poor ambassador” suggesting I enjoyed eating too much to be marketing such a plan. When I questioned why we were burying old rugs and other debris in his backyard instead of taking the items to the dump, he incredulously asked “what do you think they will do with it”. He didn’t see the point of paying them to bury it when he could bury them in his yard for free. He and Kitty once welcomed me and three friends into their Kilrush home, after midnight, after we spent the evening in the pub without first securing lodging, only to find out none was available – a rare sunny weekend in Kilkee. Flan would always ask about my job with real interest and insight. I appreciated this because I worked in an arcane area of finance that few people knew much about. Our family would regularly visit Flan and Kitty in Kilrush. It was always a relaxed and enjoyable place for all of us. For our children it established a strong connection to their grandparents and their Irish heritage. We will all treasure those times and celebrate the man who made it possible. RIP.

Meaney, Flannan J. January 1, 1931 - September 19, 2023

Condolences(11)

Moira , Padraic & Isabelle says

Ralph Romano says

Mary Dymphna, John and family. says

Donna DePiola says

Sylvia , Dave & Grace says

Patrick and Virginia says

Matthew & Dympna Molloy says

Dan O’Flynn says

Claire Meaney says

Ann Hegarty says

Peter says

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